Motor-controller.



C. T. HENDERSON.

MOTOR CONTROLLER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 14, 1910.

982,362. Patented Jan. 24, 1911.

i1 Wes \H I Am wy u H W K Q lark TlEZwzaZerSon.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

cmnx 'r. nnnnnnson, 01+ MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

moroaconrnonnnn.

Specification of Letters rarest.

Patented Jan. 24., 1911.

Applicationflled May 14, 1910. Serial No. 561,431.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that I, 'CLARK T. HENDERSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State ofWisconsin, have invented new and useful Improvements inMotor-Con'trollers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise,and exact descriptiom reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

\ My invention relates to improvement in electric motor controllers.

weighin My invention is particularly applicable to the control of motoroperated skip h'oists,

' but it should be understood. that certain will be automatically movedto dumping position and then stopped and returned to initial or fillingposition, the same cycle of operation being repeated indefimtely withoutrequiring any attention from attendants. A further ob ect of y inventlonis to provide a controller which will automatically start each skip carwhen the same has received a load of a predetermined weight but notuntil the load attains the desired weight, whereby the controller actsas a device and enables the use of an automatic delivery hopper forfilling the cars. D

Various other objects and advantages in my invention will be hereinafterclearly and fully set forth.

For the purpose of more fully disclosing invention,- I shall describethe apparatus,

diagrammatically illustrated in accompany ing drawing, whichembodies myinvention in one form. It should be understood, however, that myinvention is not limited to the specific form shown in the drawing, butis susceptible of various modifications.

For thepurposeof illustration, I have schematically shown two skip cars11 and 2, arranged to travel along gui e ingdrum 4, by means of cables 5andv 6, respectively, the' cables being wound on the drum 1 inopposite'directions, whereby, as the'drum is revolved, the carswill-move in opposite directions. The guide ways and the connectionsbetween the; cars and the I ways 3'. The cars 1 and 2 are connected to asuitable hoistsupporting cables are of the ordinary ty e, whereby, whenthe 'cars have beenmove a predetermined distance, they will be caused toempty their contents intoa suitable receiving hopper 7. The cars arearranged to be filled from a delivery hopper 8. As illustrated, thechute of the delivery hopper is provided with a pivoted door 9,connected by a rod 10 to an operating lever 11. The operating lever 11is weighted to bias the door 9 .to closed position,'and is provided withan-extension 12, arranged to be depressed by the skip cars, toautomatically open door 9 when said cars reach the proper position, toreceive a fresh load. The drum 4 is arranged to be operated in eitherdirection by electric motor 13. Of course, 'so far as my .invention isconcerned,'the particular structure of the apparatus just described isimmaterial.

I shall now describe the controller for the motor 13, whereby I amenabled to secure entire automatic operation of the skip cars.

The controller includes suitable circult closing switches 14, 15, 16 and17, adapted to. cause the motor to operatein either direction, anaccelerating device 18, a limit switch 1 19 and a control switch 20. Theswitches 14, 15, 16 and 17 are provided with operating windings 14, 15,16 and 17 respectively, and with auxiliary contacts 14", 15*,

16 and17 respectively. As will be hereinafter set forth, the switches14-and 15 are ada ted tostart the motor. in one direction, whi e theswitches 16- and 17 are adapted to start the motorin-theop ositedirection. The operatingwindings 0? these switches are adapted to becontrolled by the switch 20, to start the motor, and 'by the limitswitch 19, to stop the'motor. It is my desire to have the'switch 20operated to close the circuit through the operating windings of thestarting switches, as soon as the car receiving a fresh load has beenfilled to the desired (1 cc. Of course, this'm'ay be ac complishe invarious ways and by different means. For the purpose of illustration, I

' have shown the switch 20 as being connected 1 by rod 21 to a lever 22,having an extension 23, arranged in a path of the skip cars. I On theopposite end of the lever 22 is an adjustable weight 24t'end'ing to movethe lever 22 to open the switch 20. Of course, when the weight of theskip car overbalances the weight 24, then the lever will be rocked toclose the switch 20. It will thus be seen,

that byvarying the positions of the weight 24 on the lever 22, the carmay be made to start after receiving any desired load. In .other words,the position of the weight 24 on the lever 22 determines the weight ofthe charge received by the cars, and, therefore, acts as a weighingdevice.

The limit switch 19 for denergizing the starting switches to stop themotor,-may be of any preferred type, As. illustrated, the device 19merely comprises two switches 25 and 26, tending to stand in closedposition and arranged to be actuated by a traveling nut 27, mounted on ascrew-threaded shaft 28, said nut being provided with guides 29, toprevent rotation thereof. As illustrated, the shaft 28 is connected tothe winding drum 4, but, of course, the same might be connected to themotor, or some other part of the operated mechanism.

The accelerating .device 18, as illustrated, merely comprises a'pivotedswitch arm 30, movable over a series of contacts 31 and arranged to beoperated by a solenoid 32, a dash pot 34, being provided to retard theoperation of said switch arm. Otcourse, in practice, any preferredaccelerating device or devices may be employed. The switch arm 30 isarranged to control a variable resistance 35, connected in the armaturecircuit of the motor 13, said motor being diagr'ammatically illustratedas provided with an armature A, a series field winding F, and a shuntfield windingj. While I have illustrated a compound wound motor, itshould be understood that any referred type of motor either A. C., or D.may be employed. For bringin the motor to a quick stop after its circulthas been opened, I have provided a mechanical brake 36, having a winding37 for rendering the same ineffective, while the-motor circuit isclosed.

I shall now describe the operation of the apparatus shown, at the sametime setting forth the circuit connections therefor, as-

suming the current is supplied to the windings .of the various switchesfrom supply lines 40 and 41 through a double pole switch 42. With theskip cars in the position illustrated, the motor circuit will be opened,and the skip car 2 will receive a charge from the delivery hopper 8,said car being in a position to hold the door of the hopper open.' Inthis position, car 2 also rests upon the extension 23 of the lever 22,and when the charge received by said car, overbalances the weight 24, itrocks said lever 22, thereby, closing the switch 20. Closure of theswitch 20 completes a circuit from main line 41 by conductors 43, 44 and45, through said switch 20 by conductors 46, 47 and 48, through theoperating windings of switches 16 and 17 in parallel, by conductors 49.and 50, through the switch 25 of the limit switch by conductor 60 tomain line 40. Thereupon, switches 16 and 17 respond to close the motorcircuit, which may be traced from main line 41 by conductors 43, 44. and61, through the brake coil 37, series field windings conductors 62 and63, through the switch 17 by conductors 64 and 65, through the motorarmature A by conductors 66 and 67, throu h the switch 16 by conductor68, through 51c switch arm 30 of the accelerating device, thence throughthe resistance 35 by conductor 69 to main-line 40. The circuit of'theshunt field winding f of the motor extends from conductor 61 throughsaid winding by conductor 70 to main hne 40, and hence is permanentlyconnected across the suppl lines. Closure of the switches 16 and 17, tus, start the motor in a direction to raise the skip car 2, and to lowerthe skip car 1. The motor, however','is started at a slow speed, butupon closure of the switch 16, the auxiliar switch 16 thereof com pletesa circuit rom main line 41, through the operating winding of theaccelerating device by conductors 71 and 72, through said auxiliaryswitch by conductors 73 and 70 to main line 40, thereby, energizingtheaccelerating device. The arm 30 is thereupon, movedover the contacts 31,thereby,

gradually removing the resistance 35 and accelerating the motor. As theskip car 2 moves upwardly, it releases the lever 12,

A which thereupon, closes the door of the supply delivery hopper. Also,the car 2 releases the lever 22, which under the influence of the weight24 opens the switch 20. The opening of the switch 20 would result indenergizing switches 16 and 17 .thereby, stopping the motor, but. forthe fact that the switch 17 upon closing, establishes a maintainingcircuit for the switches 16 and 17 independent of the switch20. Thismaintainlng circuit is established by auxiliary contact 17"-of theswitch 17 and extends from conductor 43 by conductor 75, through saidcontact 17 by conductor 76, through the wind of the switches 16 and 17in parallel, an thence throu h the limit switch '19 to main line 40, asa ready traced. It

will thus, be seen that the switch 20 is ren-, dered inefl'ective todeenergize the switches 16 and 17, when released by skip car 2. The skipcar 2 continues to ascend and the skip car 1 continues to descend untilthetraveling nut 27 of the limit switch engages and opens the switch 25,which occurs when the skip car 2 reaches the position to discharge intothe hop r 7. This, of course, results in denerglzmg the switches 16 and17, thereby, o ning the motor circuit, and also,

opening t e circuit through the brake coil 37. The brake 36 is thereuponapplied to quickly bring the motor to a stop. The position of the skipcars has now been reverse'd, the car 2 eing in a position to dischargeits load into the receiving hopper,

and'the car 1 being in a position to receive a fresh load.

When the car 1 has been loaded to the proper degree, it operates thelever 22, thereby, again closing the switch 20. The closure of theswitch 20, this time, results in completing the circuits of the switches14and 15.

- The circuit of these switches may be traced from main line to theswitch 20, as already described, thence, by conductors 46, 47 and 48,through the operating windings of said switches',1n parallel byconductors 80, 81 and 82, through the switch 26 of the limit switch,which has been closed, and thence by conductor 60 to main line 40. Theswitches 14 and 15, thus respond, closing the motor circuit from mainline 40, through the series field windings, as already traced, thence toconductor 63by conductor 83, through the switch 14, by conductors 84 and66, through the motor armature A by conductors 65 and 85, through theswitch 15, thence by conductor 86 to conductor 68 and through theresistance 35 to main line 40, as already traced. It will be noted,however, that upon closure of the switches 14 and 15, current flowsthrough motor armaturein an opposite direction to that previouslydescribed, while the polarity of the field windings remains the same,consequently, the motor will now operate in an opposite direction tothat previously described, thereby, 'causingthe car 1 to beraised, andcar 2 to be lowered. Upon closure of the switch 15, the auxiliary contact 15 thereof, completes a circuit through 'theoper'ating winding, ofthe accelerating device in the same manneras the auxiliary contact 16 ofthe switch 16, while closure of the switch 1'4 causes its auxiliarycontact 14 to complete a maintaining'circuit, in parallel withthecontrol switch 20, in the same man ner as'the auxiliary contact 17 ofthe switch '17. Hence, the motor, when started by the,

switches 14 and '15 will continue to operate until the traveling nut ofthe limit switch engages and opens the switch 26. This, of course,deenergizes the switches 14 and .15,

tions illustrated,

Of course, various provisions might be, made for. permitting the skip Icars to settle under the weight imposed thereon during thefillingprocess'without interference from, or afiecting, the hoisting mechanism.,In

practice, however, Ipreferto so adjust the.

controller'that: the indtor will be maintained in operation fork a"predetermined time after the do'wncar has come to rest,'thereby con;

tinuing to pay out the hoisting rope of the. down car until enough slackis obtained to:.

leave the car, free to settle under the weight of itsload. Inthedrawingthe downcaris illustrated asprovided with af slack hoisting vrope for this purpose.

- Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a motor controller in combination,

means for starting and stopping the motor and automatically operated;means for causing said first mentioned means to start the motorwhen theload to be operated thereby, attains a predetermined weight, and forstopping the motor when the load has been moved a predetermineddistance.

2. In a motor controller in combination,

means for starting and stopping the motor, 'said means upon successlveoperations being adapted to alternately start the motorin oppositedirections and automatically operated means controlling said firstmentioned means to cause the same to start the motor when the load to beoperated thereby attains a predetermined weight, and to stop the motorwhen the load has been moveda predeter mined distance;

3. In a motorcont roller' in combination, electroresponsive means forstarting and stopping the motor andautomatica'lly operated meanscontrolling said electroresponsive means to cause the sameto start the.motor when the load to be operated attains a predetermined weight,and tostopthe motorwhen the load hasbeen moved a predetermined distance.

4. In a motor controller in combination, electroresponsive means forstarting and stopping the motor, said electroresponsive means beingadapted to cause the motor to operate'in either direction, andautomatically operated 'means controlling said electroresponsi-ve meansto cause the same to start the motor when theload to be'operated therebyattains a predetermined weight and to stop the motor when the load hasbeen moved a predetermined distance, s aid last'mentioned means beingadapted to cause said first men tioned means to alternately start themotor inop'posite directions. i

5'. In a motor controller in combination, means for starting andstopping the motor, and means controlledby the weight of the device tobe operated and by themovement thereof for controlling said firstmentioned means to cause the motorto move the device, stop thesame in apredetermined position and then returnit to initial position automatically.

6'. In a motor controller in combination,

electroresponsive means for starting and stopping the motor, and meanscontrolled. by the weight-of the device tobe operated, and

by the movement of fthe'devic'e,.f or controllin said first mentioned,means to cause the mo or to move the device, s top the same in a.predetermined position and then return it to initialpositionautomatically.'

1 7. *In a motor controller in combination,

electroresponsive means for starting and stopping the motor, and meanscontrolled by the device or devices to be operated and by the movementthereof, for controlling said first mentioned means to cause the motorto move the device or devices a predetermined distance; then stop andautomatically return the same to initial position,

8. In a motor controller in combination, electroresponsive means forstarting the motor in either direction and for stopping the same, andmeans controlled by the weight of the device or devices and by themovement thereof for controlling said first mentioned means to cause themotor to move the device or devices in one direction when the loadcarried thereby is of predetermined weight, and then move the same in anopposite direction when the load carried thereby'has been reduced.

9. In combination, two or more conveying receptacles movable in oppositedirections between predetermined points and adapted to be simultaneouslyoperated by an electric motor, 'means for starting and stopping themotor, means for causing said first mentioned means to start the motoreach time one of said receptacles is given a load of predeterminedweight, and forstopping the motor when any one of the loaded receptacleshas reached the predetermined position.

10. Incombination, two or more conveying receptacles movable in oppositedirections between predetermined points and adapted to besimultaneously'operated by an electric motor, means for starting andstopping the motor, means for causing said first mentioned means tostart the motor each time one of said receptacles is given a load ofpredetermined weight, and for stopping the motor when any one of theloaded receptacles has reached a predetermined position, and means forautomatically loading each receptacle when in a predetermined position.

11. In combination, two or more conveying receptacles movablesimultaneously between predetermined points and adapted to be operatedby an electric motor, means (for starting and stopping the drivingmotor, said means upon successive operations thereof being adapted tostart the motor alternately in opposite directions, and meanscontrolling said first mentioned means to start the'motor whenever oneof said receptacles is given a load of predetermined weight, and forstopping the motor when the loaded receptacle has reached apredetermined position.

12. In combination, two ormore conveying receptacles movablesimultaneously between predetermined points and adapted to be operatedby an electric motor, means for starting and stopping the driving motor,said means upon successive operation thereof being adapted to start themotor alternately in opposite directions, and means controlling saidfirst mentioned means to start the motor whenever one of saidreceptacles is given a load of a predetermined we' ht, and for sto pingthe motor when the oaded receptac e has reached a predeterminedposition, and means for automatically loading each receptacle when thesame is in the predetermined position.

13. In combination, two or more conveying receptacles movablesimultaneously between pre etermined points, electrores nsive means forstarting and stopp' the 'ving motor, and means automatical y controlledby the weight of the load carried b said receptacles, and by themovement 0 said receptacles for controlling said first mentioned meansto cause the motor to move each loaded receptacle to unloading positionand simultaneously move another receptacle to loading position.

14. In combination, two or more conveying reoe tacles movablesimultaneously between pre etermined oints and adapted to be operated byan electric motor, electroresponsive means for starting the motor. ineither direction and means controlling said first mentioned means tocause the same to start the motor when either of the receptacles isgiven a load of predetermined weight to move the loaded receptacletoward unloading position and to move an unloaded receptacle vtowardloading position, and means controlled by the movement of thereceptacles for-controlling said first mentioned means to stop themotor' when the receptacles reach predetermined positions.

15. In combination, two or more conveying riregitacles movablesimultaneously between I P the motor when either of the receptacles isgiven a load of predetermined weight, to move the loaded receptacletoward unloading position and to move an unloaded receptacle towardloading position, and means controlled by the movement of thereceptacles for controlling said first mentioned means to stop the motorwhen the receptacles reach predetermined POSItIOIIS, and means forautomatically loading each receptacle when in a predetermlned' posit on.

16. In a motor controller, in combmation, electroresponsive means forstarting the motor, means responsive a predetermlned weight forenergizing said electroresponsive means to start the motor and a limitswitch adapted to deenergize, said electroresponsive means to stop themotor when the same has made a predetermined number of revolutions. 17.In a motor controller, in combination, electroresponsive means forstarting the motor in either direction, a switch responsive to apredetermined Weight for energizing said electroresponsive means tostart the motor, and a limit switch adapted to deenergize said means tostop the motor.

18. In a motor controller, in combination, electroresponsive means forstarting the motor in either direction, a switch responsive to apredetermined weight for energizing said electroresponsive means tostart the motor, and a limit switch adapted to deenergize said means tostop the motor, said I l l 1 l limit switch being adapted to controlsaid electroresponsive means to cause the motor to be alternatelystarted in opposite directions upon successive operations of said firstmentioned switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in the presenceof two witnesses.

CLARK T. HENDERSON. lVitnesses: FRANK H. HUBBARD,

GEORGE HAYNES.

